Among the long list of skills internal comms pros have, the one that will move the needle is the ability to think like a marketer. Leverage these strategic marketing tactics to get the most out of your internal communication campaigns.
As internal communicators, we know the job is anything but small. The entire organization depends on us to keep employees informed, motivated, and engaged. This isn’t easy to do, especially in large, remote, or hybrid organizations.
So, how do you build employee engagement and momentum without getting bogged down in the day-to-day? One of our favorite approaches is to borrow tried-and-true tactics from marketing and transform them into the best internal communication campaigns.After all, just like marketers, you’re responsible for targeting specific audiences, crafting compelling messages, driving action, and proving the impact of your efforts. So, why not adopt the same campaign-style approach as marketers?
Read on as we share the best internal campaigns you should know about!
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Common Types of Internal Communication Campaigns
Think of an internal comms campaign as a strategic series of messages, designed with purpose and measurable outcomes in mind. Whether it’s a push for employee feedback, reinforcing company culture, or promoting new company values, creative internal communications campaigns should be your go-to for aligning your team around shared goals.
Here’s a rundown of the most common internal comms campaign ideas to spark ideas for your own internal efforts:
1. Ongoing communication campaigns: Keep employees regularly informed and engaged with consistent updates.
Examples: Employee newsletters, leadership updates, and company-wide bulletins.
2. Employee engagement campaigns: Foster a more connected and motivated workforce by focusing on engagement.
Examples: Surveys and feedback loops, pulse checks, and wellness initiatives.
3. Recognition and appreciation campaigns: Celebrate employee achievements and create a culture of recognition.
Examples: Employee recognition emails, “Employee of the Month” announcements, and milestone celebrations.
4. Change management campaigns: Ensure smooth transitions by keeping everyone informed during periods of change.
Examples: Policy updates, new process rollouts, mergers, or comms around restructuring.
5. Onboarding and training internal campaigns for employees: Help new hires and existing employees feel equipped and confident in their roles.
Examples: Welcome emails, onboarding guides, training updates.
6. Leadership communication campaigns: Keep teams aligned with leadership’s vision and direction.
Examples: CEO updates, executive town halls, and strategy alignment communications.
🎁 BONUS: We can help you craft the right messaging for your emails too! Check out these sample messages from CEOs to employees for an extra hand.
7. Crisis communication campaigns: Provide clarity and direction during uncertain times.
Examples: Emergency alerts, safety protocols, and crisis communication updates.
An advanced email tool like ContactMonkey can help you execute creative internal communications campaigns through engaging employee emails, newsletters, and leadership updates with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop email template builder. You can even schedule recurring emails to guarantee consistent comms without the extra effort. Plus, with the email analytics dashboard and real-time tracking features, you’ll know what’s working and what isn’t.
Internal Communication Campaign Planning Tips
To plan an effective internal campaign for employees, follow these steps:
1. Define your goals: Establish clear objectives and internal communication goals, such as raising awareness or driving action.
2. Identify your audience: Determine who needs to hear the message and why. Tip: Send the right message to the right people with proper audience segmentation when deploying an internal awareness campaign.
3. Choose the right channels: Blend digital, social, and in-person communications to reach all employees and combine the best internal communication channels to reach your goals.
4. Develop a timeline: Create a clear schedule and assign responsibilities.
5. Be creative: Use visuals, videos, and interactive elements to stand out.
For more details, check out our guide on how to create an internal communications plan.
10 Best Internal Communication Campaign Examples and Ideas
When planning your internal communication strategy, remember to incorporate a variety of the best internal campaigns that engage, inform, and motivate employees. Whether you’re focusing on building an internal awareness campaign or looking for internal comms campaign ideas, the right approach will boost morale and improve company culture.
Below is a list of internal communication campaign examples that drive real impact—from internal employee engagement campaigns to internal branding campaigns. Here are the best internal communication campaigns that you should have in play (at all times) within your org:
1. Employee newsletters: For internal comms campaigns that inform
What: The best internal campaigns involve employee newsletters that are regular, informative emails that highlight company news, employee achievements, departmental updates, and more. They serve as a key internal comms campaign idea to keep employees aligned and connected.
Why they’re important: Newsletters offer consistent communication across your organization, fostering transparency, keeping employees informed, and promoting engagement. They can also build a sense of community by highlighting employee stories, events, and team accomplishments.
Tips and best practices:
- Personalize content with names, unique subject lines, and department highlights.
- Keep content concise and visually appealing.
- Use ContactMonkey’s templates and analytics to track open rates and engagement.
2. Leadership updates: For internal communication campaigns that demonstrate commitment
What: Leadership updates are periodic messages from executives or department heads sharing key business developments, strategic changes, or organizational priorities with employees. They are often delivered via email or in town hall meetings.
Why it’s important: Regular leadership updates create transparency and trust between the executive team and employees. They help keep everyone aligned with the company’s vision, mission, and strategic goals. When leaders share progress on key initiatives, it builds credibility and makes employees feel more connected to the organization’s direction.
Tips and best practices:
- Use clear, direct messaging with video for internal communications to add a personal touch.
- Maintain a consistent schedule for updates.
- Leverage ContactMonkey to create branded emails and track engagement.
3. Employee recognition: For internal communication campaigns that highlight performance
What: These internal comms campaigns spotlight individual or team achievements, milestones, or anniversaries. Recognition emails or internal posts can highlight successes like project completions, hitting KPIs, or years of service.
Why it’s important: Recognizing employees not only boosts morale but also reinforces a positive work culture. It shows employees that their hard work and contributions are valued, leading to increased job satisfaction and retention. Peer recognition can also help enable teamwork and collaboration, ultimately driving a positive emotional connection to the workplace.
Tips and best practices:
- Automate recognition emails for milestones.
- Make recognition specific with examples of achievements.
- Encourage peer recognition and use ContactMonkey’s polls for feedback.
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4. Change management updates: For internal communication campaigns that navigate challenges
What: Change management campaigns provide clear and timely communication during significant company changes, such as new policies, restructuring, or system rollouts. These communications keep employees informed about what’s changing, why it’s happening, and how it will affect them.
Why it’s important: Smooth transitions are crucial during times of change. Well-executed change management updates reduce confusion, anxiety, and resistance by making sure employees have the information they need. When employees feel informed and prepared, they’re more likely to embrace the change.
Tips and best practices:
- Break down complex information into an easily digestible format (e.g. bullet points, high-level summaries)
- Provide timelines, action items, and next steps for those involved in the change.
- Use ContactMonkey’s segmentation and tracking features to ensure everyone is informed and receives the right messages based on their demographics.
5. Wellness and well-being initiatives: For internal communication campaigns that prioritize health
What: These campaigns focus on employee benefits communication and promoting mental, physical, and emotional well-being through resources, events, and programs. Wellness newsletters, well-being challenges, and updates are common formats used to engage employees in health initiatives.
Why it’s important: Supporting employee well-being leads to higher job satisfaction, increased productivity, and lower absenteeism. Wellness campaigns show employees that the organization values their overall health, which can positively affect engagement and retention.
Tips and best practices:
- Track engagement and adjust based on feedback.
- Offer a range of activities to cater to different employee needs.
- Send wellness tips regularly and include interactive surveys with ContactMonkey.
6. Diversity and inclusion messages: For internal communication campaigns that create belonging
What: Diversity and inclusion campaigns promote an inclusive company culture by highlighting initiatives that support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These campaigns may include events, educational resources, or employee stories that reflect the company’s commitment to creating an equitable workplace.
Why it’s important: An inclusive culture fosters a sense of belonging and respect, leading to increased employee engagement and innovation. It also helps attract and retain diverse talent, ensuring that the organization benefits from a wide range of perspectives.
Tips and best practices:
- Highlight diverse employee stories and promote ongoing DEI initiatives.
- Track engagement and adjust messaging based on participation.
- Use ContactMonkey to create inclusive newsletters and gather feedback.
7. Training and development alerts: For internal communication campaigns that promote growth
What: Training and development campaigns promote internal or external learning opportunities, workshops, and certifications. These communications encourage employees to take advantage of resources to grow their skills and advance their careers.
Why it’s important: Continuous learning opportunities enhance employee satisfaction and performance, which directly impacts the company’s overall success. Campaigns like these can help employees feel supported in their professional growth, leading to higher retention rates.
Tips and best practices:
- Segment audiences to promote relevant training opportunities.
- Include success stories to encourage participation and gather post-training feedback.
- Automate alerts and track registrations with ContactMonkey.
8. Event invites: For internal communication campaigns that unite teams
What: These campaigns revolve around specific events such as open enrollment, charity drives, group off-sites, or major meetings. They typically involve a sequence of communications that ramp up as the event approaches.
Why it’s important: Event-based campaigns ensure employees are well informed and prepared, preventing confusion and missed opportunities. They also build anticipation and participation through structured messaging.
Tips and best practices:
- Plan communication phases like a marketer: start with awareness, build intent, and then trigger action.
- Adapt messages as the event date nears for relevance.
- Use ContactMonkey to track events and ask for feedback after the event to incorporate the insights into future events.
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9. Triggered moments: For internal communications campaigns that require action
What: Campaigns that are automated and triggered by specific events such as new hires, promotions, team changes, or tech interruptions.
Why it’s important: Automating repetitive communications ensures consistency and prevents missed steps during significant company moments, like ensuring new hires receive all necessary onboarding information.
Tips and best practices:
- Create reusable templates to avoid reinventing the wheel for recurring moments.
- Automate the distribution of important updates like promotions or team changes.
- Use ContactMonkey’s analytics to confirm that critical information (e.g., onboarding package) has been received by the relevant employees.
10. One-off messages: For internal communication campaigns that are unique
What: These are ad-hoc campaigns for big announcements or urgent, unplanned messages, such as public relations updates or emergency communications.
Why it’s important: Even unplanned messages benefit from a structured approach. A short campaign with follow-up communications ensures that important, time-sensitive information and follow-ups are received and understood by all employees.
Tips and best practices:
- Create a quick, impactful campaign for unplanned news.
- Follow-up with additional communications if the initial message didn’t achieve the desired engagement.
- Use ContactMonkey to request feedback about how these updates can be improved or discover what employees are wondering about on the topic.
Optimizing Internal Comms Campaigns
Optimizing internal communication campaigns is a natural part of their evolution. When you first start launching campaigns, you’re in build mode—figuring out how to build your internal communications content strategy, creating your content, learning how your employees respond, and setting initial benchmarks. Over time, with data and feedback, you move into refinement mode. By continuously optimizing, you learn what works best, improve your messaging, and maximize engagement.
Through this process, you gauge whether communications are reaching employees and whether the messages resonate and when all goes well, reach and resonance lead to higher engagement along with stronger business outcomes. This learning cycle helps you consistently improve and deliver more value with each campaign.
To help you understand just how important optimizing internal comms campaigns are, here are the business benefits and how to achieve them with ContactMonkey’s email analytics:
Increased Employee Engagement
- Outcome: Optimizing your internal comms means you can deliver more relevant, engaging, and timely messages. This encourages employees to be more involved in company activities, provide feedback, and stay informed.
- Impact: Higher engagement translates into improved morale, reduced turnover, and increased employee advocacy, as engaged employees are more likely to promote your company’s vision and values.
- How ContactMonkey can help: Use ContactMonkey’s email open rate tracking to see how many employees are engaging with your emails. If open rates are low, use the A/B testing feature to experiment with different subject lines or send times. You can also track click-through rates (CTR) to see which content is driving the most engagement and optimize your emails accordingly.
Improved Productivity and Efficiency
- Outcome: Clear, concise, and well-targeted communication ensures employees have access to the information they need to perform their jobs effectively. This reduces confusion and the time spent searching for resources.
- Impact: Optimized communication helps streamline workflows, minimize errors, and ensure employees are aligned with company goals and priorities, leading to enhanced productivity.
- How ContactMonkey can help: Utilize read-time analytics to understand how much time employees spend reading your emails. If employees are skimming through them too quickly, this could mean the messages are too long or unclear. Shorten your emails or use bullet points to make them easier to digest. Segmented analytics allow you to see which teams or departments engage most, helping you focus communications on where they’re needed.
Enhanced Collaboration Across Teams
- Outcome: When internal communications are tailored to different departments or teams, it fosters better collaboration by ensuring everyone is on the same page and understands shared goals.
- Impact: Effective communication bridges silos, leading to more cross-departmental collaboration, innovation, and better problem-solving across the organization.
- How ContactMonkey can help: Use segmented analytics to track how different departments or teams engage with your internal communications. This will show you which teams are more responsive, allowing you to identify areas where collaboration or communication efforts need to be improved. You can adjust messaging to ensure all teams are informed and aligned.
Stronger Employee Retention and Satisfaction
- Outcome: Employees who feel informed and involved are more satisfied with their workplace. Optimized internal comms ensure employees feel valued and heard.
- Impact: Higher retention rates reduce recruitment and training costs. Satisfied employees are less likely to leave the company, and they contribute positively to the company culture.
- How ContactMonkey can help: Monitor feedback data through emoji reactions and comments in your emails. Use this data to understand what content employees find valuable, and tailor future messages to reflect their interests and concerns. This personalized approach fosters a sense of connection and satisfaction, helping to retain top talent.
Better Alignment With Company Goals
- Outcome: Regular, optimized internal communication campaigns help keep employees aligned with the company’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. Employees are more aware of the company’s direction and how their roles contribute to larger objectives.
- Impact: A unified workforce working toward common goals boosts organizational performance and ensures a consistent push toward business objectives.
- How ContactMonkey can help: Track CTR and link engagement to ensure employees are interacting with important company-wide updates related to goals and strategy. If click-through rates are low, consider changing how and when you deliver these messages. The analytics dashboard provides a quick overview of how different campaigns align with your internal communication goals, making it easier to adjust future efforts.
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Using ContactMonkey to Create and Launch Internal Communication Campaigns
Simply sending emails isn’t enough to launch a successful internal comms campaign. You need a streamlined process that allows you to create, deploy, and continuously optimize your comms. To help you start off, take advantage of these prep and execution steps so you can get the most out of your internal communications campaigns:
Preparation Steps:
- Set objectives: Define the goal of your campaign (e.g., engagement, feedback).
- Audience segmentation: Use ContactMonkey’s segmentation tools to tailor your messages to specific employee groups.
- Create content: Build engaging emails using drag-and-drop templates, adding multimedia, surveys, and personalized content.
Execution Steps:
- Design email: Use ContactMonkey’s intuitive email template builder to craft visually appealing newsletters or updates.
- Add interactivity: Embed surveys, polls, or feedback forms directly into emails for real-time engagement.
- Personalize messages: Use dynamic content to address employees by name or department.
- Track analytics: Measure open rates, click-throughs, and engagement to optimize your campaigns.
- Refine and re-send: Use insights to adjust messaging and resend to boost engagement.
Still wondering why to use a communication tool like ContactMonkey? ContactMonkey optimizes every email campaign based on data, making your communications more effective, send after send. Book a free demo today!